Out of Business

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 14 Jan 2006 10:30 am

The Shenandoah Valley Steel Guitar Festival will be the "Final Hurrah" ... for my business.

I did give it my "best shot" ...

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Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 14 Jan 2006 10:41 am

What do you mean,- no more Dustpans, horseshoes and other monstermagnets???

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 14 Jan 2006 10:59 am

Whoa! I'm very sorry to hear that.

I did give it my "best shot"

More than most mortal men.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 14 January 2006 at 11:00 AM.]

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 14 Jan 2006 11:10 am

Rick--I'd had no idea that this was a 'business' in the sense that you would be "in business" or "out of business". Thought it was avocation (albeit intense avocation, not vacation avocation). Your presence & contributions have been huge. I hope that you are able to continue to do stuff on some basis or another--I suspect that it means as much to you as it does to those who benefit from your hands and brain and alchemy. Best to you!

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 14 Jan 2006 11:32 am

Rick-- I'm sorry as well. I'm sure it's the best thing for now, but man, I hope you're wrong about the "final" part!

--Steve

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 14 Jan 2006 11:33 am

Rick,

Are you talking about the "Festival" Business or the lap steel business? Either way, I'm sorry to hear it. It is difficult to get a profitable business working.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 14 Jan 2006 12:06 pm

Yeah ... when my wife "nixed" my 21 yr old Swedish Au Pair idea ... I had no other option ...

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 14 Jan 2006 12:36 pm

"There is nothing more tragic, than the murder of a beautiful idea, by a gang of brutal facts." Benjamin Franklin

Having been self-employed for the past 19 years, I can certainly understand the rewards, frustrations and the toll it takes on relationships. Ask any of my Ex-es. Of course, they're just going to tell you what I jerk I am and that it had nothing to do with the job.....

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 14 Jan 2006 12:46 pm

Rick,

When you wake up, Rick, you will have no memory of this thread. Any statements that you may have made while 'under' are null and void. 1 2 3 wake up!

Seriously, I hope you are not serious!
Of course event promotion can be quite lucrative, but not usually the first event.

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 14 Jan 2006 1:16 pm

Rick, maybe "last hurrah" is a bit hasty. Besides, look at all the great research you have accomplished? It's not the destination as much as the journey, right? And I have a feeling you still have a long ways to go before the "fat lady sings" when it comes to you and steel guitars. Sides, vacations are a good thang, know what I mean Vern?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 14 Jan 2006 1:27 pm

Having run events in the past I know how time draining and scary they are.

The first time I did an event I decided to do 3 shows in the cities in less than a weeks time. Looking back it was insane. We did New York on Weds, Boston on Friday and San Francisco the following Tuesday. Because you need to book the venue in advance of selling any tickets, I was on the hook for $150k before I had even sold my first ticket or sponsorship. Fortunately, the show at least paid for itself and I made a total of $15k for 4 months work which almost sank me. In the mean time, I could have lost my house and savings very easily and almost did. Never did an event like that again. Too many sleepless nights.

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 14 Jan 2006 1:28 pm

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 14 Jan 2006 2:10 pm

I sure hope this is just some much needed venting, brother Rick. Nobody in the world has done what you've accomplished - and in such a short time. Family comes first but don't rush into something you may later regret.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 14 Jan 2006 2:26 pm

Hey Rick, get a clue:

The secret is great customer service. This means free drinks and a buffet. They know this in Vegas __ heck, everything is a gamble.

Mr. Clean

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 14 Jan 2006 2:27 pm

The concert in April is is great shape ...

I'm really lookin' forward to it ... and frankly, really NEED it !!!

It has/had no bearing on the closure of the House of Gauss ... nor did a lack of funds, enthusiasm, etc ...

Time is the only thing I can't afford anymore ...

Thanks for all the kind words ...

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Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 14 Jan 2006 5:05 pm

Please say it ain't so . .

Rick man, in your areas of expertise you're one of the great ones. What if Edison would have hung it up when he was just getting started?
What if Ben Franklin had paid no heed when they told him to go fly a kite? What if Archimedes didn't - well you get the idea . .

Can you really turn your back and walk away from greatness?
<marquee>I was thinking about getting a dustpan this year too . .</marquee>

But a feller's got to do what a feller's got to do. I'm just glad I stocked up on NIBros while the stocking was good!

Colin Brooks · Post by **Colin Brooks** » 14 Jan 2006 5:18 pm

Rick. In my book what you have achieved is amazing.

Take care of your family and take care of yourself. Find time to play your guitars and pick up the biz if and when you can.

Aloha, Colin Brooks

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 14 Jan 2006 5:28 pm

Folks ... I really appreciate the support ...

It's just that I don't want to portrait myself as a "builder" of commercially available steels anymore ... since I really don't have the time to do them up right ... in a timely fashion.

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[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 15 January 2006 at 10:02 AM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 14 Jan 2006 5:35 pm

I think each & every one of us in No Peddlers should send a two liter bottle of Meyer's Dark Rum to Rick....

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 14 Jan 2006 8:00 pm

Oh, Man...I am really sorry to hear that...
I wish you the best and all you need as a gentleman, father, husband...to keep the beans in the pot.
I do hope you find the where with all to continue, on some level, your adventure with experimenting on pickups, guitars and metal working. It was always a pleasure to see and read about your newest creations. Cheers to you Rick, my hat's off to you. Ron

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 14 Jan 2006 9:21 pm

First it was Jerry Byrd..............and now we're supposed to toughen up and lose our great inventor friend Rick....as well.

This is too much!

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 14 Jan 2006 9:43 pm

Sad to hear, my friend. But understandable considering the time you invest into each one. The work you have done thus far is outstanding.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 14 Jan 2006 11:18 pm

Hope you really don't give up Rick...what a talent to be able to make those great Dustpans! If you do give up, you'll be following in the steps of the guy who invented the soda 1 Up, 2 Up, all the way to 5 Up, and finally packed it in at 6 Up !

You the Man !

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 15 Jan 2006 1:33 am

Sorry to hear that Rick but sometimes priorities have to re evaluated I guess, especially when you have a family to think about. Maybe somewhere down the line you can fire it back up again. Good luck.

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 15 Jan 2006 8:19 pm

RICK, just look at this as the old "Two steps forward, one step back" progression!
It is still forward motion.
~~W.C.~~